Chapter 12
Maybe
[ Ava Maureen ]

"WHEN YOU introduced to me your name in the forest, I immediately thought about the 4th president in the US."

"Really? Pero saan ba 'yang US? Maybe I can meet him in person."

"Duh? He's dead a century and 8 decades ago. US or USA is the country located in one of the continent in the Mortal Realm," I explained. "By the way, have you all experienced being in the Mortal Realm?"

Kami lang ni James at Sofia ang nandito sa living room ng kanilang dorm. Sofia was silently sleeping on the couch while me and James was talking about things. Katatapos lang akong i-train ni Jack.

I mentally laughed and secretly bit my lips when I suddenly remembered his annoyed face when I kissed him. Hindi ko pa nga 'yon totoong halik. Actually, when I got bored in my classes, I always find a way to kiss a guy. My bored reliever is kissing. I'm weird, I know.

"Ah, oo! Nagka-mission kami roon. Gusto ko nga na makabalik pa kami at makapag-mission ulit do'n.' He flashed a smile as he lifted his hand and sway it repeatedly. Tiningnan ko ang pinapagalaw niya. It's a hairbrush that he brushes on Sofia's ash blue hair.

Napangiti naman ako sa ginawa niya. "What is the name of the place?" I curiously asked. I crossed my legs and lean my back on the sofa.

"Paris, France. Sobrang ganda—" I decided to cut him off dahil alam ko na ang sasabihin niya.

"I know. I used to travel everywhere when I'm in the world I came from. I travel because of the businesses we ha—"

"Walang nagtanong," pasiring na aniya.

"Ugh! You punk!" Akmang sasapakin ko na siya pero naagaw ang atensyon ko sa nagsalita sa aking likod.

"The training was over. Why are you still here?" the voice said. Pumihit ako patalikod at nakita ang lalaking hinalikan ko kanina na nakasandal sa wall na nasa tabi ng pinto. His face was emotionless, as always.

"Darling! I've been waiting for you to take me at my dorm!" maarteng sabi ko at agad na kumapit sa makikisig na braso niya. Napansin kong bahagyang pumula ang mukha ni James dahil nagpipigil ito ng tawa. I glared at him. "Ugh! This ugly creature here is always bullying me!" I complained.

Lumukot ang mukha ni Jack habang nakatingin sa braso ko na nakalingkis sa kaniya. "Get your filthy hands off me, flirt. Why would I take you at your own dorm?"

Nakakainis na yang pagtawag niya sa 'kin ng 'flirt', a! Pero okay lang, palalagpasin ko nalang ito. It's just a small thing so calm down, Ava.

"Aba! Dumadada ka na ngayon ah!" singit ni James. He just rolled his eyes at him and hissed, "Ako nalang ang maghahatid sa 'yo, Mau!" He then stand from his seat and was about to go outside when I stopped him.

"No, thanks. I can manage. Sayōnara!"

* • * • *

Hindi masakit ang katawan ko nang magising ngayong umaga dahil sanay na naman ako, and besides, I can now heal my body. Muntik na nga akong hindi makatulog kagabi dahil nadiskubre ko na sa wakas ang ability ko. I even wounded my hand and used the ability I discovered. I thought it will leave scars but it's not. Ugh, the universe don't want me to have scars on my flawless skin.

I woke up when the alarm clock rings. I set it on at 5 o'clock. The class schedule now will start at 6:30 AM—Weaponry Class. I don't want to go to that class because I already know all the weapons all over the WORLD. Pero malay ko, may iba pang mga kagamitan na panlaban dito. Well, this is a magical world after all. Makakatulong din ang class na ito para maturuan akong gumamit ng mga weapons. I only have knowledge about weapons but I don't know how to use them.

I lazily opened the door when I'm all finished.  Zoe Madelyn's smiling face welcomed me. I gently close the door and face her. Nagsimula na siyang magsalita habang naglalakad na kami. "So, Maui, how was your training yesterday?" she asked but the name she called me caught my attention.

"Maui?" Some flashbacks appeared immediately in my mind but I chose to ignore it.

I don't want to tell anyone that I already discovered my ability. Only Jack and I knows that. Pero kung sasabihin niya sa kanila, I don't have a choice but to tell them honestly. Wala na akong pake kung magagalit sila sa hindi pagsabi ko. Hindi naman ako nagsisinungaling. Lying has a big difference between hiding.

"May nabasa kasi akong libro na ang name rin ng girl ay 'Maureen' tapos nickname niya ay 'Maui'. So, I decided to name you that!" she explained softly.

Alam ko namang wala siyang alam sa buhay ko, but I can't help it. My breathing became heavy. "P-Please, don't call me Ma-Maui." I don't want that kind of nickname because I just remembered how—nevermind.

Nagtatakang napatingin siya sa 'kin at nagtanong, "Why?" I chose not to answer her at nanatiling tahimik. Malapit na ang start ng class. Nakarating na ako sa bukana ng hallway patungo sa classroom kaya naghiwalay na kami ng landas na tinahak. She is Class-A57. I can clearly see in my peripheral view her face that's full of confusion and curiosity. Pagpasok ko ay napatingin lahat ng mga kaklase ko sa 'kin tapos ay ibinalik sa board at pabalik na naman sa'kin.

What's their problem? Maybe they were mesmerized by my beauty? I decided to see it myself. My eyes got widen when the realization hits me. I read again the words that was written on the board.

'MEGAMI MAUREEN SHIMIZUO IS EXEMPTED ON THE CLASS FOR THIS DAY. IT IS NOW THE DAY OF HER FIGHT WITH ANDREA VILLAMOR OR PUNISHMENT AS IT IS CALLED.

IN THE TRAINING FIELD, MISS SHIMIZUO.'

I want to jump out of happiness when I read 'exempted on the class' pero agad na napasimangot nang mabasa ang susunod na mga salita. Why did I even forgot that so-called punishment.

With that words, I found myself sitting on the ground of the training field. Wala pa naman ang anak ni Sir Villamor. Andrea Villamor is a Rank 6 SUPREMUS.

It's just a combat fighting, Ava. So keep calm dahil ikaw naman ang may pakana nito. Kung hindi mo pa sinagot-sagot ang kalbo na propesor na iyon, e 'di wala ka rito. Ugh, I can't believe that I now know on how to backstab the person you hate in your mind. This is James' fault.

Napatayo ako mula sa pagkakaupo nang may lumapit sa akin na babae. I can say that she's tall pero mas matangkad pa rin ako. She has a light brown medium length hair. Maganda siya pero mas maganda pa rin ako.

Bakit ba ipinagkukumpara mo ang sarili mo sa iba, Ava?! Is that a nervous girl usually do on their minds? Ugh, the Bitch Ava is back, I guess?

"Hey, I'm Andrea. The most beautiful here in RA," pagpapakilala niya. She has light brown hair and spikey hairband on her head. Suplada ang kaniyang mukha pero paniguradong kung ngingiti ito ay para itong hindi makabasag pinggan. Katamtaman lamang ang tangos ng ilong at mala-rosas na mga labi. She has this fair skin—not brown, not white. She looks like Suzy Bae on a Korean Magazine I saw.

Napairap naman ako no'ng sinabi niyang 'most beautiful'. "I know," sabi ko na lamang. I heard from my classmates that this Andrea is dependent on her magic and ability. But on this duel, we will not use any ability nor magic. So, that only means, my flawless skin will having wounds if ever?! Ugh! Pwede naman sigurong pagalingin ko ang sarili kung tapos na ang parusa kuno na ito.

"So, bakit ka nga pala pinarusahan at sa 'kin ka pa talaga pina-assign ni Papa? I have  lots of work to do pa kaya," usal nito at sinisipat-sipat pa ng tingin ang kuko niyang may kulay lila na manicure. "Papa also said that the punishment for you is a duel with me. Ih~ parang ako naman ang pinarusahan niya rito, e!"

Something popped on my head that I suddenly ask her, "Why you are the one who will punish me? What are you?"

"Tsk. Ako lang naman ang taga-gawa ng parusa. Pero pag may hindi nagustuhan at labag sa batas niya raw ang ginawa ng estudyante, siya ang gagawa ng parusa at ako ang magpapatupad," paliwanag niya. "Oh, my icy! He's really unfair! Bakit ba kasi hindi nalang ako ang gagawa ng ipaparusa mo? Why duel? My beauty might disappear!"

She's not already talking to me. She's talking to herself.

A talkative self-centered bitch. Jeez, I think my ears will bleed.

I keep my silence while watching her throwing tantrums at her own father. Sabay kaming napalingon nang may nagsalita sa likod. Andrea's face immediately went pale. She's scared with his father? Well, I can't blame her. Nakakatakot naman kasi ang itsura niya.

"Andrea! Bakit hindi pa kayo nagsisimula? Haven't I told you what's her punishment? Now start! This also serve as your training. Don't depend on your magic and ability." After he spat those words, he sat on the chair for only God knows where he got.

Again, I just rolled my eyes 360 degree. This father-daughter situation is getting into my nerves. Na-miss ko tuloy si Papa. "Shall we start? I have lots of things to do with this day," singit ko sa kanila.

Her father glared at me, maybe because I'm not respecting him. Like duh, kanina pa ako nakatayo rito.

Naunang sumugod si Andrea with her fist balled hard. I easily dodge it and twisted at her back. Niluwagan ko ang pagkahawak sa kaniya kaya napalayo siya. She glared at me as she tried to kick me but I just step my feet on the right. I run towards her at tinuhod siya. Napayuko naman agad siya so I elbowed her face.

Lumayo ako ng kaunti at inangat ang tingin sa kabuuan ng field. Only to see students who are cheering us. A smirk emerged on my lips because she's already splitting blood out of her mouth. She lunged at me and we stumbled together at the ground. Nakaramdam ako ng hapdi sa bandang siko kaya tinulak ko siya palayo at tiningnan iyon.

My blood automatically boiled when I saw a scratch on my elbow. You can hurt me but don't you ever made a scratch at my skin. My beloved flawless skin.

Damn.

Nanlilisik ang mga mata na tumingin ako sa kaniya na namumutla na. Maybe she's scared of my gazes or she's not really a fan of sparring. I'm about to choke her when I heard a sound from a whistle. Napatingin ako sa kinaroroonan no'n. It was Professor Villamor.

Huh. Maybe he's scared that I might choke his daughter to death.

Maybe my real father will be like that.

Just maybe. Well, I hope so.

@eggarru